Research and resources for perinatal professionals.
August 12, 2021 | by: Cara Terreri, LCCE, CD(DONA)
The Onion, (in)famously known for its satire articles, recently wrote a piece called "Shocking Things No One Told You About Childbirth." Cara Terreri, Community Manager of Giving Birth with Confidence Lamaze parent blog read between the lines to uncover the hidden truths. This is a great use of humor in childbirth classes that perinatal educators can use to help families learn. - Sharon Muza, Community Manager, Connecting the Dots
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July 30, 2021 | by: Sharon Muza, BS, LCCE, FACCE, CD/BDT(DONA), CLE
You simply cannot teach a birth class without addressing the pain associated with labor and birth. Frankly, it is the elephant in the room, even if no one mentions it. People arrive to a childbirth class already having heard from multitudes of friends, family and even strangers, how much (or rarely - how little) giving birth hurts. If they have not given birth before, they are left wondering how bad it might be, and are they going to be able to handle it. I find that addressing this head on and providing tips to reduce pain throughout the class or class series helps normalize it and also helps families to understand that they have options, both non-pharmacological and medication, to help reduce the pain. Consider this Brilliant Activities for Birth Educators idea the next time you teach this topic.
July 16, 2021 | by: Sharon Muza, BS, LCCE, FACCE, CD/BDT(DONA), CLE
Humor in the health care setting can improve the health and the well-being of patients. When someone laughs or experiences a funny situation, their stress hormones go down, their blood pressure lowers, they experience less pain and their immune system gets stronger. Additionally, it builds trust between the people who are laughing. While these are good things to have happen during a labor and birth, if possible, letting families experience these benefits during their childbirth education can go a long way toward a positive birth experience.
June 29, 2021 | by: Sharon Muza, BS, CD/BDT(DONA), LCCE, FACCE, CLE
As PRIDE month, which celebrates the LGBTQIA+ population worldwide, draws to a close, I wanted to end this month with an interview with Simon Adriane Ellis, MSN, CNM, ARNP, FACNM, the 2021 recipient of the Excellence in Leadership & Innovation Award (formerly named the Kitty Ernst award) given by the American College of Nurse-Midwives. This award honors an exceptional, relatively new CNM/CM who has demonstrated innovative, creative endeavors in midwifery and/or women's health clinical practice, education, administration, or research.
June 24, 2021 | by: Sharon Muza, BS, LCCE, FACCE, CD/BDT(DONA), CLE
One of the favorite traditions I have celebrated over the years of teaching childbirth classes is the class photo of all the pregnant families together at the last class and then a reunion picture with the families all holding their babies when we meet again. Of course with classes being moved to virtual platforms, things have had to change, but we have found a way to celebrate the end of class anyway, which all the families appreciate.
June 22, 2021 | by: Sharon Muza, BS, LCCE, FACCE, CD/BDT(DONA), CLE
In the United States and around the globe, June is PRIDE Month, a time to recognize, center and celebrate the LGBTQIA+ community and their families. (Not sure what all those initials stand for, check out this handy reference guide.) The New York Times ran an article earlier this month that was applicable to childbirth educators, perinatal professionals and health care providers who work with birthing and postpartum people during the childbearing year.
Some L.G.B.T.Q. Parents Reject the Names ‘Mommy’ and ‘Daddy’” addresses the importance of families having their parenting roles and corresponding names for those roles recognized and respected. Families in 2021 are diverse and not everyone identifies as a mother or father.
June 18, 2021 | by: Sharon Muza, BS, LCCE, FACCE, CD/BDT(DONA), CLE
May 20, 2021 | by: Sharon Muza, BS, LCCE, FACCE, CD/BDT(DONA), CLE
May is 2021 Preeclampsia Awareness Month. May 22 is World Preeclampsia Day. Preeclampsia, or high blood pressure in pregnancy, affects approximately 5-8% of all pregnancies in the United States and is a leading cause of maternal mortality and morbidity. The 2021 campaign’s theme is Beyond Pregnancy. When a pregnant person experiences preeclampsia either during their pregnancy or after giving birth (which can happen even if preeclampsia was not present during the course of pregnancy) the impact of this serious disease lasts long after the birth and postpartum period are over
April 23, 2021 | by: Mindy Cockeram, LCCE
Tuesday, in Connecting The Dots, in Part I of The Impact of Common Labor Interventions on Newborn Weight Loss and Breast/Chestfeeding Cessation, we examined how the use of analgesics for pain relief, Pitocin for induction and a large IV fluid load delivered throughout labor, can lead to breast/chestfeeding challenges for new parents in the first few hours and days of life.
Today, in Part II, we examine the appropriate timing of a newborn’s baseline weight assessment. When, after birth, should a newborn’s baseline weight be established? Using a weight that may have been impacted by labor interventions can hinder maternal breastfeeding confidence and skew pediatric goals for normal newborn weight gain. We also look at an evidence based tool for determining if weight loss really falls into the supplementation zone.
April 13, 2021 | by: Molly Giammarco, MPP
As Lamaze joins stakeholders, advocates, and policymakers in celebrating Black Maternal Health Week (April 11-17, 2021), Lamaze educators, advocates, and parents can reflect on the progress made on raising awareness of maternal health disparities—and the actions taken to address them. With the Congressional Black Maternal Health Caucus’ (BMHC) and other policymakers’ leadership, vision, and collaboration, federal efforts to reduce maternal health disparities and shortfalls are no longer just talking points. They are now Congressional actions.
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